Abstract
Research Objectives
1) To identify the need for continued public health messaging to promote mask-wearing in the state of Oklahoma during the COVID-19 pandemic.
2) To value the importance of future health professionals embracing the role of promoting public health measures
Design
A service-learning project was instituted, including student-led research into health promotion measures to decrease the risk of viral spread, rates of spread in Oklahoma, and interactions with a physical therapist currently working with individuals with COVID 19 in the ICU to give students real-world examples of severity. Students took information garnered to educate their peers about the importance of mask-wearing.
Setting
University setting.
Participants
First-year Physical Therapy students (N=14).
Interventions
Peer education in the importance of mask-wearing to decrease transmission of COVID-19.
Main Outcome Measures
Students submitted journals recounting their experience with the project and the challenges with educating a public that is resistant to mask-wearing.
Results
Students reported the interactions with the PT working with COVID-19 in the ICU improved their personal understanding of the severity of COVID-19 and increased their awareness of the potential sequella of the disease process. Students reported the activity enhanced their desire to promote public health as future physical therapists.
Conclusions
Interactions with health professionals working on the front-lines of a pandemic may be beneficial to future health professionals in shaping their desire to promote public health measures.
Author(s) Disclosures
None.
Key Words: Public Health, COVID-19, Masks